Halton Cooperative Purchasing Group Teams up With Staples Business Advantage Canada to Establish Emergency Preparedness Plan

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - May 03, 2016) - The Halton Cooperative Purchasing Group (HCPG) has selected Staples Business Advantage (NASDAQ: SPLS), the business-to-business division of Staples for providing safety supplies for emergency preparedness. Through this arrangement, Staples Business Advantage will provide a wide array of emergency supplies and equipment, including safety gear, flares, medical supplies, blankets, bottled water, and even crayons and colouring books to keep children occupied in an evacuation centre.

The HCPG supports 15 different public sector agencies within the Halton region area of Ontario. Previously, the group maintained an emergency resource book, with lists of products and suppliers to accommodate various situations. Now, the vast majority of these products are included in an emergency supply plan developed jointly by both parties and maintained by Staples Business Advantage. The arrangement takes the pressure off HCPG's administrative staff who would likely be stretched to the limit in an emergency scenario.

"It's a lot easier to make one phone call to Staples Business Advantage and have one truck delivering supplies instead having to make multiple calls, and then deal with several different deliveries," says Simone Gourlay, Manager of Purchasing, Town of Halton Hills. "In an emergency, time is of the essence, and we can't waste it getting bogged down with logistics."

HCPG's members also won't be at the end of a long line of regions that might require emergency supplies, in case of a situation where they had to stock an evacuation centre with 2,000 people.

"We have strategic relationships with our vendor-partners, so we can tap into their inventory at a moment's notice," said Margaret Blake, vice president of merchandising and procurement for Staples Business Advantage.

Although the plan crosses many product categories, it isn't just about procurement. Logistics, transportation, and communication with multiple parties have to be ready to kick in at any time of day or night.

Last year, the HCPG hosted an emergency certification exercise with associates from Staples Business Advantage as well as members of other cooperatives in Ontario.

"This workshop walked through an emergency scenario, from a procurement perspective, so we could see how the strategic partnership would work," says Leslie Williamson, Manager, Purchasing and Risk Services, Town of Milton and HCPG Chair.

The partnership reflects Staples's recent rebranding of their business-to-business division as Staples Business Advantage, which emphasizes the use of the company's wide capabilities to help solve customers' core business problems.

"Our relationship with the HCPG is a great example of how we are continually going above and beyond to serve the needs of our customers," says Michael Zahra, president of Staples Business Advantage Canada. "Emergency preparedness is critical for all businesses and we're committed to helping them prepare for and recover from any emergency situation."

The Halton Co-operative Purchasing Group (HCPG), founded in 1974, serves various purchasing and materials management needs of 15 publicly funded agencies within the region of Halton. It emphasizes communication, standardization and resource sharing to maximize value for municipal taxpayers.

Staples Business Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples, Inc., helps mid-market, commercial and enterprise-sized customers make more happen by offering a curated assortment of products and services combined with deep expertise, best-in-class customer service, competitive pricing and state-of-the art-ecommerce site. Staples Business Advantage is the one-source solution for all things businesses need to succeed, including office supplies, facilities cleaning and maintenance, breakroom snacks and beverages, technology, furniture, interior design and Print & Marketing Services. Headquartered outside of Boston, Staples, Inc. operates throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.